The Best Hair Clippers in Australia for 2022
Or how to stop lockdown standing between you and a fresh cut.
If you're looking for an easier way to book a barber sesh, a great set of hair clippers could be the simplest solution. The best hair clippers are sharp, ergonomic, and easy to use and take care of. Similar to a beard trimmer, they'll make quick work of the hair on your head - and some clippers even take care of the rest, too. We've spent hours finding Australia's top hair clippers for home use, and here are our faves.
How we picked
We’d usually start with CHOICE, Australia’s biggest consumer advocacy group, but they haven’t reviewed hair clippers so we headed to ProductReview.com.au to see what Aussies thought. After adding some of the top-rated picks to our list, we started narrowing things down by checking what was available with major retailers. On our hunt, we found a couple more popular picks that stood out. This is how we ended up with our list of Australia’s best hair clippers.
The best value hair clippers
Whether you're after a full short back and sides, or just want a quick fade touch-up, the Philips Multigroom Series 5000 does it all. We reckon they’re Australia’s best hair clippers. Why? Let’s start with everything they come with. This impressive little gadget powers through all kinds of hair with combs of 3 different lengths, as well as a body comb, 2 stubble combs, and adjustable beard comb. The Multigroom also keeps those short and curlies at bay with a nose and ear trimmer, detail trimmer and metal trimmer to boot.
What we really love about the Philips Multigroom Series 5000 is its DualCut blade technology. Blades gently sharpen themselves against each other as you clip, so they'll stay sharp for years - no sharpening required. This set scores around 5 stars on ProductReview.com.au. Aussies say it's powerful for a small set of clippers, and doesn't take long to charge. They also rate the battery runtime, which is around 80 minutes. Not bad for around $90.
The best cordless hair clippers
When you're cutting your own hair, the last thing you want is a power cord in your face blocking your all-important view. Wahl's Cordless Groom Pro hair clippers do away with the dangle, making it easier to see what you're doing. As well as being cordless hair clippers, they also come with 10 guide combs for short, medium and long cuts. This makes them ideal for tackling every length of lockdown cut.
The comfort grip on these Wahl clippers also gives you better control. We rate the quality of the Groom Pro, as do the pros and Aussies across reviews - Wahl comes up again and again as a top brand. This set is always ready to slice your locks with its self-sharpening precision blades. The blades are also removable, so you can rinse them off after a trim. We think this is the best cordless set of clippers as they balance price, accessories and ease of use.
The best value hair clippers
If you need a cheapie set of hair clippers for at-home haircuts, Wahl's EasyCut Home Hair Cutting Kit is the way to go. At just under $40, this well-priced set comes with everything but the barber’s chit-chat. This includes 10 guide combs for a range of lengths, and even a pair of scissors. As you’d expect from a budget pick, they’re corded, not cordless.
The high-carbon steel blades on these hair clippers are precision-ground to stay sharper for longer. We like the adjustable taper lever for custom lengths, too. The Wahl EasyCut Home Hair Cutting Kit is your best budget buy for getting the job done, without the frills.
The best professional hair clippers
If you're in the market for a professional set of hair clippers, we reckon the Wahl 6000CC Salon Series will see you right. The clue’s in the name: Salon Series. These durable cordless clippers give you a salon-quality cut, with a taper blade and adjustable taper lever for precision. The lithium ion batteries offer a 90-minute run time, and you'll get four 3-13mm guide combs for a variety of lengths.
These Wahl clippers score around 4 stars on ProductReview.com.au. People say they're 'solid but not heavy,' and 'quick to clean and recharge.' Not everyone is stoked with the battery life, but this easy-to-use set is a good bet for anyone handy with a pair of clippers. Heaps of Aussies also reckon they’re made to last.
The best all-in-one hair clippers
Looking for a single tool for your whole body? VS Sassoon’s The All-Rounder does it all for less. We’re talking whole top to toe coverage. Coming in at just under $70, these cordless clippers have a runtime of 40 minutes. They also boast a range of different attachments to tackle all kinds of hair, including 3 comb guides, 3 attachment heads and a 7-position comb guide for beards. The precision W-Tech blades don't need regular oiling, and it's waterproof for shower shaves, too.
The All-Rounder has a 2-year warranty, scoring nearly 5 stars on ProductReview.com.au. Hairy folks like its versatility as a wet shaver, and a few use them with shaving foam in the shower. One person also rates how sensitive these clippers are both 'below and above the belt’ (ahem). However you use your hair clippers, this VS Sassoon trimmer has you covered.
The best showerproof beard trimmer
The Philips Multigroom Series 7000 comes with great versatility. It offers 5 different options, ranging in price from $119 - $299. This includes a 12-tool option, 2 x 14 tools and 2 x 18 tools. Which means the Series 7000 offers way more than a beard trimmer.
As well as a different number of tools, you get different runtimes which start at 2 hours and go up to 6 hours. Whichever model you go for, they’re all showerproof for easy use and cleaning. All the blades are self-sharpening and don’t need oiling for easy maintenance. All options offer a 5-minute quick charge and a 2-year warranty.
Philips is Canstar Blue’s #4 beard trimmer brand and the Series 7000 gets around 4.5 stars on ProductReview.com.au.
The most easy to use hair clippers
Cutting your hair with clippers can be a bit of a learning curve, but the Remington Rapid Cut Turbo makes it easy thanks to its ergonomic design. At just under $100, these cleverly-designed clippers have a curved 70mm blade, fitting to the contours of your head for wider coverage. The DC motor has a turbo boost, and comes with 12 guide combs ranging between 1.5 and 25mm.
Aussie reviewers score the Remington Rapid Cut Turbo clippers nearly 4 stars on ProductReview.com.au. They have a 2-year warranty, though a few people are frustrated with the battery life of this tool. Even so, most Aussies say the Rapid Cut Turbo gets the job done with impressive speed and precision.
Types of hair clippers
Broadly speaking, there are 3 kinds of hair maintenance gadgets designed for men: hair clippers, beard trimmers, and electric shavers. Hair clippers speed up the hair cutting process, acting like electronic scissors to make life easier for barbers and DIY-ers alike. They usually come with varying guide combs to chop hair from any length to a shorter style. Hair clippers like the Philips and VS Sassoon models are sometimes combined with beard trimmers for an all-in-one hair removal tool.
Beard trimmers are designed to give you the next-shortest cut to a set of clippers. They generally have much shorter guides, and can be used to tidy up around the ears and hairline as well as the neck and chin area. Some Aussies even use them to trim body hair below the belt.
Electric shavers are the final step in the hair removal process. Where a beard trimmer gives you the ability to cut hair close to the skin, an electric shaver removes hair completely. Designed to be used without water or shaving foam, electric shavers provide a low-hassle way to get a closer shave.
Make maintaining your hair clippers a breeze by looking for models with self-sharpening blades. Self-sharpening blades rub against a piece of metal as they clip, ensuring they're always sharp. Which means no need for professional blade sharpening and less need to replace blunt blades, saving you money in the long term.
Corded hair clippers are great, because you never run out of charge or battery. But they're not-so-great because you're limited to where you can use them - you have to be near a power point. Whereas cordless clippers are great because you can use them anywhere, including in the shower. But they're not-so-great because you have to remember to charge them and the battery runtime can be lacking.
Battery runtime is important, especially if you're planning a total hair makeover - you don't want to run out of juice halfway through and end up with an accidental mullet. A really useful feature is a quick charge, where a short amount of charging (like 15 minutes) will give you an extra few minutes of power.
Waterproof hair clippers are great timesavers, letting you clip your hair while in the bath or shower. Given that you'll probably be using them in the bathroom, aka a traditionally wet area, it's also a good safety feature.
Common questions
Can you use hair clippers on wet hair?
Hair that is greasy or wet isn’t ideal when cutting with electric clippers. Grease and product build-up can clog your hair clippers, and wet hair sticks together to make cutting a pain. While there are showerproof clippers out there, they tend to be all-in-one style products that also offer trimming and shaving settings too. It’s also best to keep the blades on your hair clippers dry and properly oiled, as residual water may cause blades to rust.
Can you cut long hair with hair clippers?
In short, yes. Clippers are essentially electric scissors, so they should cut most hair. At the same time, guide combs rarely go longer than 1-2 inches, so if you want to keep hair longer than this, hair clippers may not be the best method.
How should I take care of my hair clippers?
Just as you need to keep a chef's knife sharpened, you’ll also need to do a little maintenance to keep your clippers in tip top shape. To start, it’s important to clean your clippers’ blades regularly with a brush to prevent them getting clogged. Many clippers also come with extra blade oil, which helps prevent rust while ensuring lubrication for smoother cutting. You may also see clipper spray in your new hair clipper kit. Clipper spray helps keep the blades cool while acting as a disinfectant. This is handy when you’re in for a longer clipping sesh, or when you’re using clippers on multiple people.
Sources
- 'Best Men's Hair Trimmers / Personal Groomers', ProductReview.com.au
- 'Hair Clippers Compared’, Canstar Blue
